Violent Soho to go on “indefinite hiatus” after Groovin’

Bunbury Groovin the Moo show will be the last for Australian rockers Violent Soho in the foreseeable future, according to guitarist James Tidswell.

Tidswell told the South Western Times that the South West leg of the tour would be the last performance for the band before they take an indefinite hiatus from performing.

“I know it’s going to be big, it will be the best one of the whole tour and it will be so emotional for us because it will be our last time playing indefinitely,” he said.

“There is nothing booked after that, no album, we haven’t demoed any songs, we aren’t touring so that’s it – I 100 per cent guarantee it will be at least a year before we do anything else.

It’s not so much playing our songs, but seeing people’s response – it’s something we could never get used to or take for grantedJames Tidswell

“It’s been an amazing six years and it’s the end of this whole sort of ride really.

“We will always be a band and always play, but this is the end of going this hard.”

Violent Soho had a rollercoaster ride of a career before their success in 2013, when the band released their album Hungry Ghost, which later attained gold status for selling 30,000 units in Australia.

They backed up this effort with their latest album WACO, which reached number one on the Australian iTunes albums chart, debuted at number one on the ARIA charts and saw the band collect two ARIAS for Best Group and Best Rock Album in 2016.

In 2010 the band from Mansfield, Queensland, was on the precipice of hitting the big time, signing with Ecstatic Peace! Records, headed by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and relocating to Brooklyn, New York.

“We really learnt who we were and about the industry as well, we thought we had an idea, but realised we had none until we went to America.”

“It’s a whole different industry there, it’s a total machine.”

The band soon decided to make the move back to Australia after not agreeing with some of the label’s decisions and being branded as “alternative” but finding themselves becoming “full mainstream”.

“I think when we said ‘no’ to something like that it really allowed us to say ‘no’ to other things and be comfortable with who we are,” he said.

“We really learnt it was OK to be that band if that’s what you want to be, rather than chase these dreams and have yourself advertised as alternative when you aren’t really, you are going full mainstream.

It’s been an amazing six years and it’s the end of this whole sort of ride reallyJames Tidswell

“It seemed crazy to keep working over in America and let where we are from and where we are passionate about forget about us entirely.”

“We decided to move home, forget about this big dream and be happy to play to 200 people, which is exactly what we did, just accepted that’s how it was and we were stoked.”

Back at square one, Tidswell had returned from a job interview at McDonald’s when he heard the band was nominated for an ARIA for their self-titled album.

The band soon after produced Hungry Ghost and the hit single Covered in Chrome which would bring them national fame.

“I think it’s like when you can’t find your keys and then when you stop looking you find them, it was exactly that sort of scenario.”

“I think the really grounding thing for us back then was realising it should definitely be enjoyment over profit and once we fell into that mindset is when it all just really came out.

Camera IconAustralia’s favourite boys-next-door are ready to rock Bunbury’s Groovin the Moo on May 13, citing it as their last show for an indefinite period of time.

“When Hungry Ghost came out there was no way we ever thought that it was ever going to change, we never even thought it would be played on the radio”

Tidswell said they had to convince the label to add Covered in Chrome onto the album, but he always knew it would be a hit.

“But when I thought it was going to be a mega hit, I meant among the 200 people that listened to our band, I never expected it to go quite that big.”

Tidswell said the band had long given up on dreams to make it big, but soon found themselves about to play after Parkway Drive at the 2014 Groovin the Moo.

“It was the scariest thing in the world, we have a pretty relaxed approach to playing and we put in a lot of energy but, you know, we are by no means skilful and here is the world’s best metal band and we have to go play afterwards.”

I know it’s going to be big, it will be the best one of the whole tour and it will be so emotional for usJames Tidswell

“Since then it was like ‘alright, here we are, let’s just enjoy it’.”

Tidswell said the band could not wait to return to Bunbury and planned to bring their skateboards along to enjoy some time at the Bunbury Skate Park.

“We are hell stoked at the response WACO had and to get out to the rural and regional areas where people get more into our band than anywhere else – the kids go crazy, we can’t wait.”

“Covered in Chrome is always ridiculous because the crowd is louder than us no matter how loud we are.”

“It’s not so much playing our songs, but seeing people’s response – it’s something we could never get used to or take for granted”